Nanotechnology: Environmental Toxicology, Detection and Diagnostic Design

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Nanotechnology Environmental Toxicology,
Detection and Diagnostic Design
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Nanoparticles Human and Environmental Toxicology

• Industrial and Research Projections
• Industry projections are for a 1 trillion dollar
  market by 2011-2015 (NSF), projected workforce of
  2,000,000 by 2015 (NNI).
• Carbon nanotube production alone now approaches
  500,000 kg/yr.
• In 2004 9 billion in worldwide RD spending (3
  billion in US).

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Public Perception?
Green Goo The New Nano-Threat  In its
report, published on July 8, 2005, the Action
Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration
said the risks from green goo demand the most
urgent foresight and caution. "With nanobiotech,
researchers have the power to create completely
new organisms that have never existed on Earth,"
said the ETC release accompanying its report.
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• Concerns of Informed Scientists
• The very scale range of these materials do
  present safety and environmental issues that
  should be addressed responsibly by industry at
  least in the same manner as fine particulate
  materials are currently handled under existing
  health and safety guidelines. (EU Report)
• Very little is known about the behavior of these
  nanoparticles in the atmosphere, water or soil.
• Actions of Regulatory Agencies
• National toxicology program is expected to
  budget 5 million per year by 2008 for evaluation
  of toxicity of nanoparticles.
• Agencies (NIOSH, NCI, DoD, NIST, NIEHS, NTP,
  FDA, EPA) are gathering data, supporting research
  about potential toxicity and considering
  regulations governing the production and use of
  nanoparticles.

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Responsible Data-Driven Reaction to Public
Concerns
What must always be borne in mind is that if the
public lose confidence in the safety of a new or
particular technology their pressure will
ultimately result in the loss of its license to
operate. GMOs for food production are not a
commercially viable option in Europe and have
closed their production in light of massive
public concern. John Ewins, HSE, UK 1st Int Sym
on Occupational Health Implications of
Nanomaterials Oct. 2004 http//www.hsl.gov.uk/cap
abilities/nanosymrep_final.pdf
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Addressing Real Issues

• Behavior and influence of nanoparticles in the
  biosphere
• Fate of nanoparticles in the environment to
  effects upon individual organisms
• Structural transition in air, soil, water, and
  sediment
• Chemical/physical transition by recycling
  (combustion)
• Effects upon individual organisms
• Sites of action, metabolism, storage, and
  excretion
• Nature and degree of potential harmful effects
  especially those resulting from sublethal doses.
• Manipulation of cells and/or genes by
  nanoparticles?
• Transfection
• Formation/initiation of tumor cells
• Misfunction of proteins after adsorption
• Relationships of linkages between responses at
  different organizational levels
• From molecular to ecosystem
• Synergistic effects

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Building on Our Strengths Collaborative,
cross-disciplinary, strength-based projects

• Toxicology of Nanomaterials
• Characterizing mechanisms of entry and action
• B. Monitoring environmental effects
• NCTR, ASU, UAF, UALR
• Nanomaterials as Tools for Biological Diagnostics
• Developing of nanomaterials-based tools for
  biomonitoring
• Integrating nanotechnology-based tools in nucleic
  acid- and protein-based diagnostic platforms
• UAF, UALR, ASU

• Detection and monitoring of nanomaterials
• Developing analytical tools for environmental
  assessment (water, soil, sediment and air)
• B. Developing of high throughput,
  molecular-based tools for
• detection of nanomaterials in organisms
• NCTR, ASU, UAF, UALR

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Nanotechnology Toxicology, Detection and
Diagnostic Design

• Specific Goals
• Application of existing (e.g. EPA-certified)
  toxicity tests to commercially available
  nanoparticles
• Characterize toxicology of new and existing
  nanoparticles
• Characterize mechanisms by which nanoparticle
  impact cellular and organismal responses.
• Characterize fate and distribution of
  nanoparticles in the environment
• Development of models and testing systems that
  will allow rapid, inexpensive toxicity testing
  for new and existing types of nanoparticles
• Detection and measurement of nanoparticles in
  environmental samples (air, water, soil,
  sediments)
• Develop nanotechnology-based tools that will
  allow rapid, inexpensive detection of exposure
  to sublethal environmental stressors.
• Improved (cost, speed, accuracy)
  nanotechnology-based biological diagnostics.

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Expertise at ASU

• Dolan/Farris/Buchanan Development of high
  throughput, molecular-based tools for detection
  of nanomaterials in the environment
• Cramer/Dolan Integration of nanotechnology
  application for commercially relevant nucleic
  acid- protein-based diagnostics
• Farris/Buchanan/Bouldin Environmental toxicology
  of metal-based nanomaterials
• Hannigan Detection of nanoparticles in
  environmental samples (water, soil and air)
• Srivatsan Effects of nanoparticles on neuron
  survival/death and neurite growth.

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Regional Importance

• Arkansas institutions and companies will need
  reliable assessment of their product
  applications, use, and impact.
• Arkansas has already developed significant
  resources for investigating human and
  environmental toxicity.
• Initial start-up companies that are producing
  nanoparticles, using nanotechnology and
  providing analytical and diagnostic services are
  already in the state.
• Ability to effectively monitor Arkansass
  natural resources and environment

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Statewide Impact of this Project